The Watkins Range ( da, Watkins Bjerge) is Greenland's highest mountain range. It is located in King Christian IX Land, Sermersooq municipality. The range was named after British Arctic explorer Gino Watkins.

History

Made up entirely of

nunatak A nunatak (from Inuit ''nunataq'') is the summit or ridge of a mountain that protrudes from an ice field or glacier that otherwise covers most of the mountain or ridge. They are also called glacial islands. Examples are natural pyramidal peaks. ...

s,GEUS Map - Northern East Greenland; Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin 21 Map 4 - 1:1 000 000
/ref> this remote range was formerly an unknown area. In 1912 Swiss

geophysicist Geophysics () is a subject of natural science concerned with the physical processes and physical properties of the Earth and its surrounding space environment, and the use of quantitative methods for their analysis. The term ''geophysics'' som ...

and

Arctic explorer Arctic exploration is the physical exploration of the Arctic region of the Earth. It refers to the historical period during which mankind has explored the region north of the Arctic Circle. Historical records suggest that humankind have explored ...

Alfred De Quervain crossed the Greenland ice cap from Godhavn (Qeqertarsuaq) on the west, to Sermilik Fjord on the eastern side and saw a range system that he named ' Schweizerland', marking the position and approximate height of Mont Forel, the highest point of that area Lacking accurate data, Mont Forel was then thought to be the highest mountain in the Arctic Circle area, together with

Petermann Peak Petermann Peak, ( da, Petermann Bjerg), also known as ''Petermann Fjeld'', ''Petermanns Topp'' and ''Petermann Point'' is a mountain in King Christian X Land, Northeast Greenland. Administratively it is part of the Northeast Greenland National Pa ...

far to the north.The Development of Mountaineering in East and North-East Greenland, An Outline History
/ref> However, in 1930 Gino Watkins, leader of the

British Arctic Air Route Expedition The British Arctic Air Route Expedition (BAARE) was a privately funded expedition to the east coast and interior of the island of Greenland from 1930 to 1931. Led by Gino Watkins, it aimed to improve maps and charts of poorly surveyed sections of ...

, discovered a new mountain range from the air located over 350 km to the northeast of Schweizerland that he named 'New Mountains'. This was the higher Watkins Range with the Gunnbjørnsfjeld, the actual highest summit in Greenland.Encyclopedia Arctica 14: Greenland
/ref> In 1935 Lawrence Wager, who had been earlier with Watkins' 1930 expedition returned to East Greenland and opened a new route inland. During his venture he made the first ascent of the range's highest point, Gunnbjorns Fjeld. He was also able to sight as well the Lemon Range, a hitherto unknown range located to the north-east of Kangerlugssuaq Fjord.

Geography

The Watkins Range is located in King Christian IX Land about 60 km inland from the Blosseville Coast. It is a system of nunataks surrounded by large active glaciers. The main glaciers are the large Christian IV Glacier to the west, the Rosenborg Glacier to the south and the Kronborg Glacier to the east. The range has massive ice-covered peaks and exposed cliffs. The primary summit of the range is Gunnbjørn Fjeld , also the highest peak in the Arctic. The

Lindbergh Range The Lindbergh Range or Lindbergh Nunataks ( da, Lindbergh Fjelde or ''Lindbergh Nunatakker'') is a mountain range in King Christian IX Land, eastern Greenland. Administratively the range is part of the Sermersooq Municipality. History The range ...

rises to the west, beyond the Christian IV Glacier. Other high nunataks are located nearby, some being part of the greater Watkins Range system, such as the Skaermen ''(Skærmen)'' to the west, the

Ejnar Mikkelsen Range Ejnar Mikkelsen Range ( da, Ejnar Mikkelsen Fjeld) is a mountain range in King Christian IX Land, eastern Greenland. Administratively it is part of the Sermersooq Municipality. The range is part of the greater Watkins Range and is named after Da ...

— and the

Borgtinderne Borgtinderne, meaning 'Castle Pinnacles' in the Danish language, is a mountain range in King Christian IX Land, eastern Greenland. Administratively this range is part of the Sermersooq Municipality. Geography The Borgtinderne is a long nunatak wi ...

to the east, and the

Lilloise Range The Lilloise Range or Lilloise Mountains ( da, Lilloise Bjerge) is a mountain range in King Christian IX Land, eastern Greenland. Administratively this range is part of the Sermersooq Municipality. In petrology the Lilloise Intrusion is named a ...

to the southeast. The Gronau Nunataks are located to the north at the edge of the

Greenland Ice Sheet The Greenland ice sheet ( da, Grønlands indlandsis, kl, Sermersuaq) is a vast body of ice covering , roughly near 80% of the surface of Greenland. It is sometimes referred to as an ice cap, or under the term ''inland ice'', or its Danish equiva ...

, separated from the Watkins Range by the Christian IV Glacier. 'Rasmussens Range' ''(Knud Rasmussens Bjerge)'', from

Knud Rasmussen Land Knut ( Norwegian and Swedish), Knud ( Danish), or Knútur (Icelandic) is a Scandinavian, German, and Dutch first name, of which the anglicised form is Canute. In Germany both "Knut" and "Knud" are used. In Spanish and Portuguese Canuto is use ...

mountains, is the name used in some sources to refer to the northern section of the range located between the 69th parallel north and the Gronau Nunataks.Arctic Summits - Summit Climbs
/ref> However, there is a mountain range located in West Greenland that is known by the name ''

Knud Rasmussens Bjerge The Knud Rasmussen Range ( da, Knud Rasmussen Bjerge), also known as ''Usugdluk'', is a mountain range in West Greenland. Administratively this range is part of Qeqertalik municipality. The range is named after Greenlandic/Danish polar explorer ...

''.

Mountains

The Watkins Range has a number of mountains higher than , some of which are unnamed. Among these the following deserve mention: * Gunnbjørn Fjeld - * Gunnbjørn Dome - * Gunnbjørn Cone - * Peak - at , part of a group of high peaks north of Gunnbjørn Fjeld *

Deception Dome Deception or falsehood is an act or statement that misleads, hides the truth, or promotes a belief, concept, or idea that is not true. It is often done for personal gain or advantage. Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda and sleight o ...

- * Peak - at , part of a group of high peaks NE of Gunnbjørn Fjeld

Google Earth Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D computer graphics, 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposition, superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and geog ...

* Istind - AAJ - North America, Greenland, Swiss East Greenland Expedition
/ref> * Ebeth - *

Lille Snefjeld Lille ( , ; nl, Rijsel ; pcd, Lile; vls, Rysel) is a city in the northern part of France, in French Flanders. On the river Deûle, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France region, the prefecture of the Nord ...

- File:Gröönimaa maastik.JPG, Southward bend in the Christian IV Glacier with the Gronau Nunataks in the background and the NW part of the Watkins Range on the right File:Operational Navigation Chart C-13, 3rd edition.jpg, Defense Mapping Agency map of Greenland sheet

Climbing

The Watkins Range has excellent snow as well as ice routes for experienced climbers. Good climbing conditions are present for the most part in July and August.''Mountain Info. Greenland 2006'' Climb Magazine. January 2008 issue, p. 70

References

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

AAJ - 2011: Mt. Augustine Courtauld (ca 3,150m).Highlights and keywords from the Greenland 2004 expeditionGreenland 2004
Mountain ranges of Greenland Nunataks of Greenland Sermersooq